NBA News: June 11th

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DAN HURLEY REJECTS LAKERS’ $70M OFFER TO STAY AT UCONN AND CHASE HISTORY

UConn’s head coach, Dan Hurley, has decided to stay with the Huskies, turning down a massive offer from the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers had reportedly offered Hurley a six-year, $70 million contract, which would have made him one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA.

“I am humbled by this entire experience,” Hurley said in a statement. “At the end of the day, I am extremely proud of the championship culture we have built at Connecticut. We met as a team before today’s workout, and our focus right now is getting better this summer and connecting as a team as we continue to pursue championships.”

The Lakers’ offer was tempting, especially with the opportunity to coach stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis. However, Hurley chose to remain at UConn, aiming to lead the team to an unprecedented three consecutive national championships, a feat not achieved since John Wooden’s UCLA team in the 1960s and ’70s.

Hurley is expected to negotiate a new deal with UConn to become one of the highest-paid coaches in college basketball. Meanwhile, the Lakers will continue their search for a new head coach, with candidates like James Borrego and JJ Redick being considered. The Lakers are looking to fill the position after firing Darvin Ham on May 3.

SUNS HIRE FORMER WASHINGTON COACH MIKE HOPKINS AS ASSISTANT

The Phoenix Suns are bringing in former Washington coach Mike Hopkins as an assistant, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Pete Thamel. Hopkins will join the coaching staff under head coach Mike Budenholzer, alongside David Fizdale and Chad Forcier.

Hopkins, 54, spent the last seven seasons as the head coach at Washington, where he posted a 118-106 record. His tenure with the Huskies started off impressively, as he won back-to-back Pac-12 Coach of the Year awards and led the team to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament in his second season.

Despite a strong start, Washington’s performance declined in recent years. The team hasn’t returned to the NCAA Tournament since the 2018-19 season and finished last in the Pac-12 standings in the 2019-20 season, even with future NBA first-round picks Isaiah Stewart and Jaden McDaniels on the roster.

Before his time at Washington, Hopkins spent 22 years at Syracuse as an assistant coach under Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim. His extensive experience and coaching acumen are expected to be valuable assets to the Suns as they look to strengthen their team and make a deeper run in the NBA playoffs.

Hopkins is the latest addition to Budenholzer’s staff, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the team.
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